January 23, 2010 - Hey Beautiful Family,
How’s everything going on the home front? Sounds like everyone’s busy with school, UTA, the new home, work, and lots of other fun things. I love it. My big news this week is that me and my companion have been leaving to proselyte with the new Gringo couple, Elder and Sister Earl. They are such a sweet couple and they have so many good intentions of being able to serve and teach the people. However, they are held back by the language. It’s hard because they don’t have a Latin companion to help them out. So my companion and I leave with them to help them. It’s really hard though. President doesn’t want me to speak any English with them, but it is hard because they are still learning the language. The thing is, they need to speak Spanish as much as they can even between themselves when they are at their house. That is how I learned, just speaking as much as I could until I just couldn’t think of the word or didn’t know how to conjugate the verb, but I also had a Latin companion that was always there to save me. I suffered and cried, but I made it through the learning Spanish phase and now I love the language. I absolutely love the Spanish language and I still have so much to learn. I am so excited to be able to speak Spanish with people in Utah and keep the language in my tongue. I am also excited to be able to speak Spanish with Davey. DAVEY COMES HOME THIS WEEK!!! Can you believe it? I cannot believe his two years are already up. I actually think he hits exactly two years today. Please tell him “Hi” for me, give him a huge hug, and thank him for setting the example for me. It has been so great to have a cousin in the Mission at the same time for 15 Months! That means I only have 9 Months left!!! The time is going to fly by. You are going to have so much fun being able to talk with him about his Mission, all of the experiences he has lived, and the people he has met. I can’t wait to talk with him in person when I get home. Like I have said before, what a moment it will be. The Quinn Family is going to have one Returned Missionary this week, and it will have two in November. It will come too fast…I’m still working on my huge January project with Hermana Campian so I am keeping really busy. We had a great talk with President this week about how to be a good husband, a good father, about putting 100% into whatever calling we have in the Church, and about not working for the money, but instead, living with the money you have. He said that a person should go after what they enjoy in life, and if they are keeping the Commandments and do all that they need to do, money will never be a problem. I love it. He is such a wise man and I love learning from him. We need to follow our dreams and put our all into everything that we do. I plan on doing it in every aspect of my life… On Monday, President took us to lunch at Rodizio’s again. It was so good and guess what I had for dessert? TIRAMISU!!! I finally tried Tiramisu after hearing about it so much in High School Musical. It is a really good dessert. I recommend it when you get the chance to eat it. I got a fun envelope this week full of letters written by the whole extended Quinn Family for the New Year and another letter from Grandpa and Grandma Olsen. We are officially the trunkiest family. Everyone is so excited that this is the Homecoming Year. But who wouldn’t be? I am way excited! About being in charge for the last time this change, I was just speculating. I say that because President Pérez is finishing in June and he has to prepare the Offices to bring in the new President so my Personal Secretary kid will be bringing him in. I have to prepare everything so that my “hijo” is ready to take the work I do and go. So Elder Steed and I are pretty sure that we are leaving this change, but no one ever knows. We are happy with however it turns out. We know we have been so blessed to be in the Offices in the time period that we have been here. It has been an amazing and beautiful experience. :) I love you guys so much. I know that this is the work of the Lord. There are always new Missionaries starting, others ending, and others that have trunky families…(I bet you don’t know who I’m talking about?... :) I am healthy and happy and loving the Mission. Les amo mucho y quiero que sepan que estoy feliz y muy agradecido por tener una familia tan buena. Cuídense mucho y no se olviden de su hijo y hermano que está en Perú. Love you forever,Coco
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
"I have learned something very special about the Mission."
January 16, 2010 - Mi querida y hermosa familia,
Can I just tell you how much I love you family? I love you so much. I love you so much. It just makes me so happy to know that I have such a special family. We are so blessed. Mom, I so wish I could be there to help you out with your English 1010 paper. I would be more than happy to help you write it and you know it. Oh, if only I wasn’t 4,000 miles away… :) It has to be about a personal event right? I was thinking, if it fits within the requirements, that you could talk about the experience that you have had with sending a son away from home, not necessarily on a Mission because college doesn’t have anything to do with religion, but sending the son away with requirements and rules. You can put a lot of details into it because you are still living it. You can tell how hard it is from a Mom’s perspective to send a son away, and how living that experience has strengthened you. I think it would be a great topic if it fits within the guidelines. Or you could talk about the personal event you had with having a house full of three boys, or meeting Dad, but I think the sending the boy away is a good topic…and it’s not just because I get to be the boy that you are going to talk about. :) Have tons of fun with your talks tomorrow. I know you are going to do a great job. And don’t worry about it too much. Heavenly Father is giving you all the chance to spiritually grow. Sharing your testimonies will only help them grow. Sharing your testimony is the way we verify that we believe and know that something is true. Just have confidence in the fact that you know the things you are going to say are true. Dallis, I’m having a hard time thinking of things you can put in your talk. I was thinking that all of the things that we did as a family before the Mission were what prepared me: praying as a family helped me realize the importance of trusting in God and knowing that He will always be there to help me; family scripture study, even though it was a struggle sometimes helped me realize the importance of applying the scriptures in our lives; early morning temple visits helped me realize the importance of always keeping our goals set on the final goal—Eternal Life as an Eternal Family; everything we learned from Mom and Dad helped us understand the basic principles of the Gospel, and now I am able to share these basics with the humble and lovely Peruvian people. Missionary: one who leaves his family for two years so that others can be with their families forever. :) I don’t know if this will help you, but I know you are going to do a great job. The house looks absolutely great and I am so excited. Even Elder Steed is excited. He wants to come visit after the Mission just to see the finished result. Changes went great and perfect. It was my last time to be in charge. Next time my son is going to do it. Funny story: a new Elder Lee that entered this week was one of Jerry Westberg’s roommate at USU. It’s a small world. Elder Elison from California is the new Assistant. He is going to be great. But I really miss Elder Santiago. I think it was harder to say goodbye to him than it was to say goodbye to Elder Rich because I knew that I will always be able to see Elder Rich again. But there is the chance that I may never see Elder Santiago again because he lives in another country, Guatemala. It was really hard to say goodbye to someone I considered as my true older brother. He always called me his younger brother and I loved it because I will never know what it is like to have an older brother. He really is like an older brother to me and I love him to death. I have to see him again before the next life. He says he wants to come up to Utah to see the Christmas Devotional this year and I told him that our house is more than open for him to come and stay while he is in Utah. I really hope that he is able to do it. I really want to help him do it. I love him so much and I miss him a ton. It was one of the hardest farewells… I love you. Today, we went to the National Museum of Peru and it was so interesting to see how much of Peru’s history really fits in with the history of the Book of Mormon. It is amazing, and it made me so happy to remember that I am living and preaching the Gospel in a land where the Book of Mormon took place. It’s a cool thought. And we also went to Sebastian’s baptism today. He is Gladys Canches’ son. He just turned eight two weeks ago. It was such a good baptism. I sang “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus”. I starting crying when Sebastian shared his testimony because he started crying when he thanked us, the Elders, for taking such good care of him and his family. It was such a precious moment. I was crying, he was crying, his sister Estrella was crying, his mom and dad were crying, and about every other sister in the room was crying. It was a beautiful spiritual experience. I love being so close to the people down here. I have learned something very special about the Mission. It is necessary that a Missionary loves the people. I know I have it. I love this people. I love Peru. I love this culture. I love the Mission. I will never regret that I came on a Mission. I know that our family has been so blessed. We will never be able to thank Heavenly Father enough. Good luck on your talks tomorrow. I will be praying for you Bill. Dad, you’re going to do fine. I love you tons fam. Take care this week. I love you beyond what words can describe. Love, Coco
Can I just tell you how much I love you family? I love you so much. I love you so much. It just makes me so happy to know that I have such a special family. We are so blessed. Mom, I so wish I could be there to help you out with your English 1010 paper. I would be more than happy to help you write it and you know it. Oh, if only I wasn’t 4,000 miles away… :) It has to be about a personal event right? I was thinking, if it fits within the requirements, that you could talk about the experience that you have had with sending a son away from home, not necessarily on a Mission because college doesn’t have anything to do with religion, but sending the son away with requirements and rules. You can put a lot of details into it because you are still living it. You can tell how hard it is from a Mom’s perspective to send a son away, and how living that experience has strengthened you. I think it would be a great topic if it fits within the guidelines. Or you could talk about the personal event you had with having a house full of three boys, or meeting Dad, but I think the sending the boy away is a good topic…and it’s not just because I get to be the boy that you are going to talk about. :) Have tons of fun with your talks tomorrow. I know you are going to do a great job. And don’t worry about it too much. Heavenly Father is giving you all the chance to spiritually grow. Sharing your testimonies will only help them grow. Sharing your testimony is the way we verify that we believe and know that something is true. Just have confidence in the fact that you know the things you are going to say are true. Dallis, I’m having a hard time thinking of things you can put in your talk. I was thinking that all of the things that we did as a family before the Mission were what prepared me: praying as a family helped me realize the importance of trusting in God and knowing that He will always be there to help me; family scripture study, even though it was a struggle sometimes helped me realize the importance of applying the scriptures in our lives; early morning temple visits helped me realize the importance of always keeping our goals set on the final goal—Eternal Life as an Eternal Family; everything we learned from Mom and Dad helped us understand the basic principles of the Gospel, and now I am able to share these basics with the humble and lovely Peruvian people. Missionary: one who leaves his family for two years so that others can be with their families forever. :) I don’t know if this will help you, but I know you are going to do a great job. The house looks absolutely great and I am so excited. Even Elder Steed is excited. He wants to come visit after the Mission just to see the finished result. Changes went great and perfect. It was my last time to be in charge. Next time my son is going to do it. Funny story: a new Elder Lee that entered this week was one of Jerry Westberg’s roommate at USU. It’s a small world. Elder Elison from California is the new Assistant. He is going to be great. But I really miss Elder Santiago. I think it was harder to say goodbye to him than it was to say goodbye to Elder Rich because I knew that I will always be able to see Elder Rich again. But there is the chance that I may never see Elder Santiago again because he lives in another country, Guatemala. It was really hard to say goodbye to someone I considered as my true older brother. He always called me his younger brother and I loved it because I will never know what it is like to have an older brother. He really is like an older brother to me and I love him to death. I have to see him again before the next life. He says he wants to come up to Utah to see the Christmas Devotional this year and I told him that our house is more than open for him to come and stay while he is in Utah. I really hope that he is able to do it. I really want to help him do it. I love him so much and I miss him a ton. It was one of the hardest farewells… I love you. Today, we went to the National Museum of Peru and it was so interesting to see how much of Peru’s history really fits in with the history of the Book of Mormon. It is amazing, and it made me so happy to remember that I am living and preaching the Gospel in a land where the Book of Mormon took place. It’s a cool thought. And we also went to Sebastian’s baptism today. He is Gladys Canches’ son. He just turned eight two weeks ago. It was such a good baptism. I sang “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus”. I starting crying when Sebastian shared his testimony because he started crying when he thanked us, the Elders, for taking such good care of him and his family. It was such a precious moment. I was crying, he was crying, his sister Estrella was crying, his mom and dad were crying, and about every other sister in the room was crying. It was a beautiful spiritual experience. I love being so close to the people down here. I have learned something very special about the Mission. It is necessary that a Missionary loves the people. I know I have it. I love this people. I love Peru. I love this culture. I love the Mission. I will never regret that I came on a Mission. I know that our family has been so blessed. We will never be able to thank Heavenly Father enough. Good luck on your talks tomorrow. I will be praying for you Bill. Dad, you’re going to do fine. I love you tons fam. Take care this week. I love you beyond what words can describe. Love, Coco
"I would never change anything..."
January 9, 2010 - Hey Family, What a week it has been. I have been working all week preparing everything for the Changes. As part of my work, I buy all of the flights for the jungle changes. There are two airlines that I use, Lan Peru and Star Peru. Lan has much better service, costs a little bit more, and the guidelines for entering the planes are stricter, and we always try to use this airline because it is more trustworthy. Star is easier to get through security with copies of documents and it costs less. Every January, the Personal Secretary has a huge project of helping each foreign Missionary pay taxes for being a current resident of Peru. I have to have all of the Peruvian Resident Licenses of every foreign Missionary in the Mission. We always travel with these licenses, but right now I have all of them, so everyone is traveling on Star Peru. All I have to do is send a copy of every Passport of every foreign Missionary that will be traveling. I love my job. Just pray that everybody is allowed to get on the plane. I don’t want to lose flights. I’m praying really hard. Other than that, I think almost everything is done and ready to go. I will be sending everything out Monday morning and Change Week begins. You know how Change Week goes. It is going to fly by. I’m kind of sad because one of my best Office friends is leaving me. Elder Santiago is going home to Guatemala. I’m not going to have my friend who always sings High School Musical to me, who cheers me up when things are hectic, and who always puts a smile on my face by his fun personality. He has been such a good friend and I know that we are going to stay in contact. Other than losing a truly good friend, this week is going to be a fast, busy, and fun one. I am so excited that the house is getting done. It’s like a huge Christmas present that just keeps on giving and giving. I love hearing the new things that are going on with the house and that everyone is excited for the move. Even I am excited for the move, and I’m not even going to be there. But I am so excited to have a new house to come home to. It is going to be my once-in-a-life-time luxury present when I get home. I can’t wait to see the house and be inside of it. Please keep sending me pictures of the home’s progress. It’s fun to see it getting built step-by-step. What a blessing it will be to have a new home. I am so happy and excited! Chase, congratulations with your MDT Show. I bet it is great. Tell me what numbers you are in and what shows they are from. Don’t forget to tape the show so I can see it when I get home. And quit having dreams about me. Just kidding. I love that we all have dreams about each other. “It´s gonna be a Night to Remember” when I get home. We’re gonna party like 19(what year do they say?)…2010!!! It’ going to be so much fun.
I would never change anything for the person I am and the things that I have. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for being so blessed. I have the greatest family on earth. I am currently a Missionary and a Representative of Jesus Christ. I am getting a new home. I have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. I love to sing, dance, and act. I am a huge fan of High School Musical. I am happy and I love it. Family, know that I love you and that I wouldn’t change anything for the family that we have. We are so blessed. I felt each and every one of you present in the Temple today. We are eternally bonded together. I know that Heavenly Father is happy with the progress that we are making because He wants us to return to His presence as a family. And I know that we can do it. I love you family. Keep writing me all you want. Wish me luck in Change Week and don’t forget about me in your prayers. I love you. Take care. Love, Colyn
I would never change anything for the person I am and the things that I have. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for being so blessed. I have the greatest family on earth. I am currently a Missionary and a Representative of Jesus Christ. I am getting a new home. I have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. I love to sing, dance, and act. I am a huge fan of High School Musical. I am happy and I love it. Family, know that I love you and that I wouldn’t change anything for the family that we have. We are so blessed. I felt each and every one of you present in the Temple today. We are eternally bonded together. I know that Heavenly Father is happy with the progress that we are making because He wants us to return to His presence as a family. And I know that we can do it. I love you family. Keep writing me all you want. Wish me luck in Change Week and don’t forget about me in your prayers. I love you. Take care. Love, Colyn
Monday, January 4, 2010
¡¡¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO 2010!!!
January 2, 2010!!!!!!!
Happy New Years 2010 Family!!!
Can you believe it? We are already in 2010. (Theme Music—“Home” by Michael Bublé) That’s right. It’s the year that I am coming home. (But we are not “trunky” at all…) It feels great. New Years feels the same as when we hit the year mark. The time is really passing.
Fun News: I received some fun packages this week. I got a little package from G & G Olsen full of treats. Please tell them thanks for thinking of me and taking care of me and that I wish them a Merry Christmas, the same for G & G Quinn… I got an envelope with three letters full of little notes from members of our new ward, along with little cute notes from Mom and Dad. Thank you so much. And the best package of all…a red Old Navy blanket and the cutest and most awesome photo album of High School Musical from Whitley. It is an album with cool High School Musical quotes and our pictures from Tuachan throughout it. She said in her letter that Chase had seen it and that he was excited for me to receive it. I was so excited to get it. It is such a fun and cool album. Her mom also sent a photo of her family with a little note. What a blessing it is to know the Osborn Family. They are so sweet. Please tell them thanks as soon as you can and let Whitley know that I loved the album. :) Excellent News: I had my check-up interview with President this week and he told me some great news.
I’M STAYING ANOTHER CHANGE AS PERSONAL SECRETARY!!!
In the interview, I thanked him for Christmas and he told me, “No. Thank you for Christmas.” And then he asked, “Are you ready to do the same thing New Years Eve?” I couldn’t hold back my smile and we both just laughed. He then asked me if I had any questions or concerns and I told him that I was nervous wondering if I was staying in the Offices or leaving to the field. He told me not to worry and to calm down because he wants me to stay another change. I’M GOING 5 CHANGES!!! Just like you said in the phone call Mom. He told me he was very thankful for my work in the Offices and for everything that I do. I thanked him for the awesome privilege it has been so far to be here and that I would be more than happy to stay another change. I am way excited. This means that I will be here until at least the 24th of February. (Send Leslie’s Dad again… :)
New Years Eve was awesome! We played Monopoly and had to give up the game at 10:30pm to have enough time to eat dinner and then be able to watch the fireworks. I was winning when we stopped playing, so I am the current champion of Monopoly. :) President and Sister Pérez told me that they watched the Tuachan version of High School Musical and that they loved it. They said they were very impressed by my singing, dancing, and acting and the same for all who are in it: Chase, Whitley, and DeLaney. I think it is so fun that they are getting into the High School Musical groove as well. We ate a delicious dinner, as always, home-cooked by Sister Pérez and President. Then it was time for fireworks and they were going off everywhere. Everywhere was lit up by millions of fireworks that everyone was lighting off. I spent the time looking through the window reflecting on being in the Mission Field for one whole year. Remember? I entered into the Mission Field December 31, 2008. I was with Elder Dominguez and we lit off some sparklers and bought fun 2009 glasses and hats. This year, I was kneeling in the kitchen window on the 21st floor with Sister Pérez next to me and President next to her. It was way too perfect. Then we ate some strawberry pie with ice cream and started up a game of UNO. President went to bed a little early because he was having back problems from lifting a box wrong, but Sister Pérez held out strong the whole night. We were up playing UNO with Sister Pérez until 3:30am and then after cleaning up and getting ready for bed, we were all in pajamas and tucked in at about 4:00. What a fun night. In the morning, we had another delicious breakfast with homemade banana muffins and orange juice. We then enjoyed some more UNO and told jokes and then it was time to head back to the Offices. I absolutely loved being with President and his wife. He has so much knowledge of the Gospel and just understands it so clearly. And I truly love his wife. Sister Pérez is just like you Mom, always laughing and wanting to play games. I love joking with her because she always understands what I say and we usually agree on everything. I love her and President to death and I am so thankful that Heavenly Father spoiled me by letting me spend not only Christmas with them, but New Years as well. It was the best Christmas and New Years that a Missionary can have. Mom, this week is the preparation for changes and then the next week is Change Week. So I am going to have a busy two weeks… I am so glad that you all have callings. I don’t know if you know why it is so important that every member has a calling, but I realized why here in the Mission. It is especially important for new converts because a calling keeps the person active. Enjoy your callings and do everything that you can in them because it will bring our family even more blessings than we already have. You work hard there, and I will work hard here and then we’ll all be together before we know it working together. Family, I love you so much. Now officially, the Holiday Season has passed and we will be together for the next one. I love you. Take care. Love, Colyn
Happy New Years 2010 Family!!!
Can you believe it? We are already in 2010. (Theme Music—“Home” by Michael Bublé) That’s right. It’s the year that I am coming home. (But we are not “trunky” at all…) It feels great. New Years feels the same as when we hit the year mark. The time is really passing.
Fun News: I received some fun packages this week. I got a little package from G & G Olsen full of treats. Please tell them thanks for thinking of me and taking care of me and that I wish them a Merry Christmas, the same for G & G Quinn… I got an envelope with three letters full of little notes from members of our new ward, along with little cute notes from Mom and Dad. Thank you so much. And the best package of all…a red Old Navy blanket and the cutest and most awesome photo album of High School Musical from Whitley. It is an album with cool High School Musical quotes and our pictures from Tuachan throughout it. She said in her letter that Chase had seen it and that he was excited for me to receive it. I was so excited to get it. It is such a fun and cool album. Her mom also sent a photo of her family with a little note. What a blessing it is to know the Osborn Family. They are so sweet. Please tell them thanks as soon as you can and let Whitley know that I loved the album. :) Excellent News: I had my check-up interview with President this week and he told me some great news.
I’M STAYING ANOTHER CHANGE AS PERSONAL SECRETARY!!!
In the interview, I thanked him for Christmas and he told me, “No. Thank you for Christmas.” And then he asked, “Are you ready to do the same thing New Years Eve?” I couldn’t hold back my smile and we both just laughed. He then asked me if I had any questions or concerns and I told him that I was nervous wondering if I was staying in the Offices or leaving to the field. He told me not to worry and to calm down because he wants me to stay another change. I’M GOING 5 CHANGES!!! Just like you said in the phone call Mom. He told me he was very thankful for my work in the Offices and for everything that I do. I thanked him for the awesome privilege it has been so far to be here and that I would be more than happy to stay another change. I am way excited. This means that I will be here until at least the 24th of February. (Send Leslie’s Dad again… :)
New Years Eve was awesome! We played Monopoly and had to give up the game at 10:30pm to have enough time to eat dinner and then be able to watch the fireworks. I was winning when we stopped playing, so I am the current champion of Monopoly. :) President and Sister Pérez told me that they watched the Tuachan version of High School Musical and that they loved it. They said they were very impressed by my singing, dancing, and acting and the same for all who are in it: Chase, Whitley, and DeLaney. I think it is so fun that they are getting into the High School Musical groove as well. We ate a delicious dinner, as always, home-cooked by Sister Pérez and President. Then it was time for fireworks and they were going off everywhere. Everywhere was lit up by millions of fireworks that everyone was lighting off. I spent the time looking through the window reflecting on being in the Mission Field for one whole year. Remember? I entered into the Mission Field December 31, 2008. I was with Elder Dominguez and we lit off some sparklers and bought fun 2009 glasses and hats. This year, I was kneeling in the kitchen window on the 21st floor with Sister Pérez next to me and President next to her. It was way too perfect. Then we ate some strawberry pie with ice cream and started up a game of UNO. President went to bed a little early because he was having back problems from lifting a box wrong, but Sister Pérez held out strong the whole night. We were up playing UNO with Sister Pérez until 3:30am and then after cleaning up and getting ready for bed, we were all in pajamas and tucked in at about 4:00. What a fun night. In the morning, we had another delicious breakfast with homemade banana muffins and orange juice. We then enjoyed some more UNO and told jokes and then it was time to head back to the Offices. I absolutely loved being with President and his wife. He has so much knowledge of the Gospel and just understands it so clearly. And I truly love his wife. Sister Pérez is just like you Mom, always laughing and wanting to play games. I love joking with her because she always understands what I say and we usually agree on everything. I love her and President to death and I am so thankful that Heavenly Father spoiled me by letting me spend not only Christmas with them, but New Years as well. It was the best Christmas and New Years that a Missionary can have. Mom, this week is the preparation for changes and then the next week is Change Week. So I am going to have a busy two weeks… I am so glad that you all have callings. I don’t know if you know why it is so important that every member has a calling, but I realized why here in the Mission. It is especially important for new converts because a calling keeps the person active. Enjoy your callings and do everything that you can in them because it will bring our family even more blessings than we already have. You work hard there, and I will work hard here and then we’ll all be together before we know it working together. Family, I love you so much. Now officially, the Holiday Season has passed and we will be together for the next one. I love you. Take care. Love, Colyn
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